Introduction - ISpillMyDrink/UEFI-Repair-Guide GitHub Wiki

With firmware becoming increasingly more complex, the potential for problems related to firmware increases as well. A good portion of all problems with modern computers are firmware related - to a point where they can become indistinguishable from hardware defects. Take the Embedded Controller (EC) most modern laptops are equipped with for example; its job includes enabling power rails, reacting to the power button press, driving the status LEDs, and so on. As with most microcontrollers, the EC has its own firmware, and as with most firmware - it can become corrupted. Corrupted EC firmware can result in the device acting stone-dead, no reaction to power button press, nothing.

To understand the kind of problems we can expect from firmware corruption, this chapter will go over the basics of the UEFI boot process, what hardware is involved, and some of the specifics of Intel and AMD based platforms.

1.1. Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

A short introduction to the UEFI specification and the platform boot process.

1.2. Chipsets (ICH/PCH/FCH)

Some differences and commonalities between AMD and Intel based platforms.

1.3. Intel Converged Security and Manageability Engine (CSME)

Information specific to Intel's Converged Security and Manageability Engine embedded into the chipset.

1.4. AMD Platform Security Processor (PSP)

Information specific to AMD's Platform Security Processor embedded into the CPU.

1.5. Embedded Controller (EC)

Some information on Embedded Controller, Super I/O, Baseboard Management Controller, and similar platform-embedded microcontroller.